On Friday, Vanderbilt granted freshman forward Sheldon Jeter his release so he could play closer to home.

Evidently, there are restrictions on how close to home.

Tuesday the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Vanderbilt has blocked Jeter from transferring to the University of Pittsburgh and competing on scholarship for the Panthers. Jeter is from Beaver Falls, Pa., approximately 40 miles from Pittsburgh.

Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings did not immediately return a message left on his phone.

Athletic director David Williams said when a student-athlete wants to transfer he or she must be granted a release from their coach. A list of prospective schools must also be presented to the coach, who can deny a transfer request.

Williams said he is unaware of which schools Jeter asked to be released to.

“We, as an administrative body, stay out of the middle of that,” Williams said. “I don’t investigate that. I don’t ask about it.”

Williams said only Stallings and the school’s compliance directors know which schools Jeter requested. But compliance can’t release that information under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Jeter can appeal the decision outside of the athletics department through a university appeals process, Williams said. Since Williams began overseeing the athletic department in 2003, he can only remember a student going through the appeals process twice – a football player and a swimmer.

If he wins the appeal, Stallings can’t challenge the final decision. If Jeter is denied again, though, Williams said he could extend the appeal process to the NCAA.